The future is ours, but not every youth leader will carry us to a better one
From recent mobilizations against institutional corruption to the social media witch hunt against nepo babies, the youth have proven that concerted action can leave long-lasting effects.
We’re not simply referring to a few well-off but socially insensitive heiresses suspending their accounts and laying low—rather, the murmurings of true, lasting change: kickstarting a nationwide manhunt for corrupt contractors and their DPWH/national government allies, and supporting tried-and-tested leaders instead of the old and musty vanguards of traditional politics.
But while the youth remain to be the hope for the Philippine democracy—one freed of patronage politics, systemic corruption, and an ingrained acceptance of the status quo—several so-called youth leaders have shown that this isn’t so easily done.
After all, while we can elect better-equipped leaders, let’s not forget that our pool of choices hasn’t changed all that much—young or old, they’re all still (mostly) the same.
Mandy Romero: Promising, but burdened by the shadows of traditional politics
Mandy Romero, aged 25, was recently appointed as the Department of Energy’s (DOE) youngest-ever assistant secretary, under Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin.
She went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and finished with a magna cum laude, studying Health Care Management and Policy with a minor in Justice and Peace Studies. Romero also served as a Philippine youth representative to the United Nations and founded Capital1 Solar Energy, a renewable energy firm specializing in solar power plants.
Despite the stellar resume and her potential as a youth leader, public scrutiny was directed at Romero, particularly given her connection to her father and billionaire businessman, Mikee Romero, who notably owns Globalport. He also owns Fort Pilar Energy Inc. and remains connected to his daughters’ energy firm.
Her appointment reflects a systemic pattern enveloping Philippine politics, one that prioritizes family connections, irrespective of ability or qualification. After all, in addition to the many conflicts of interest surrounding her appointment, she’s an unproven 25-year-old who was gifted an assistant secretary position.
Kiko Barzaga: The worst we could possibly have to offer
Gone viral for the wrong reasons, Cavite Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga has made a name for himself in such a short amount of time, from publicly voicing intent to replace Martin Romualdez as House Speaker—to which his support amounted to crickets—to more recently being suspended for 60 days without pay and allowance. This follows a string of social media posts and behaviour deemed “unbefitting of a House member.”
Barzaga hails from one of Cavite’s oldest political dynasties. He is the son of the late Rep. Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr., while his mother, Jenny Austria-Barzaga, and brother, Elpidio “Third” Barzaga III, serve as Dasmariñas City’s mayor and vice-mayor, respectively.
While he’s been rather open about the nepotism of which he’s a product of—let’s face it, from photos of him flaunting stacks of cash to being headlocked by a cosplayer—he’s more known by his personal antics than the work he’s done as a public servant.
The guy hasn’t even finished his Political Science degree, and he’s supposed to be a congressman? Please, at least be a qualified nepo baby.
A challenge of continued prudence
Being an Ateneo graduate, I am acquainted with several batchmates of mine who are now politicians. Without naming them, they are literally nepo babies who were, quite frankly, “patapon” students.
Even after giving them the benefit of the doubt that they’ve shaped up now that they’ve become government officials, it can be quite infuriating to visit their social media pages and see how infatuated their supporters and constituents are with them. After all, it’s the Filipino tendency to glorify their politicians, put them on pedestals, and treat them as celebrities rather than public servants.
But let’s face it—being young doesn’t mean they’re any different. Let’s not forget, politics is an old man’s game. The fact that they’re there says a lot more about the system they’re benefiting from rather than their individual capability.
